Simulation Study of Zinc-Air Fuel Cell with Flowing Electrolyte: Alternative Approach for Design and Optimization

This paper presents a comprehensive simulation study of zinc-air fuel cell with flowing electrolyte (or zinc-air flow battery of zinc-air flow cell), incorporating 0D, 1D, and 2D models to analyze and compare each model. The models provide insights into the electrochemical performance, mass transport dynamics, and thermal management of the system, enabling a multi-scale understanding of the cell behavior. The 0D model focuses on simplified system-level performance, while the 1D and 2D models capture spatial variations in reaction kinetics, ion transport, and oxygen diffusion. The simulation result is also validated against experimental data, demonstrating high accuracy and reliability of the proposed 2D model. The validated models can be used to optimize critical parameters such as electrolyte flow rate, electrode geometry, and operating conditions, paving the way for enhanced efficiency and lifespan. This work highlights the potential of simulation-driven approaches in the design and optimization of zinc-air fuel cell with flowing electrolyte.